CINCINNATI — On Wednesday, Pirates right-hander Ivan Nova was rewarded for his remarkable April performance by being named the National League pitcher of the month.
The monthly award is Nova’s first in his career and the Pirates’ first since right-hander Gerrit Cole won in April 2015 — their previous one was left-hander Randy Tomlin in June 1992.
The Pirates acquired Nova from the New York Yankees at the trade deadline last season and signed him to a three-year, $26 million free agent contract this offseason. So far, it’s a steal.
In five April starts, Nova threw two complete games, one a shutout.